For more than a 100 years, since Henry Ford began mass-producing Model Ts, cars have been a national obsession in America. Before we had to worry about fuel efficiency and when the Interstate Highway System was merely a dream, stately, luxurious automobiles seemed like the keys to freedom. It’s no wonder cars made such a popular vintage postcard subject.

In the early 20th century, classic American cars were made by Ford, Chrysler (also branded as Plymouth and Dodge), and General Motors (branded as Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile). After World War II, the introduction of high-compression V-8 engines lead to the creation of “muscle cars,” like Mustangs, which could quickly accelerate to exhilarating speeds, as their engines roared, fueling the hobby of drag racing and the need to speed unfettered down an interstate freeway.